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How does Zype Live work?

Great question!

Zype Live works in five stages. It begins when you, the customer, films a live event by using on-location cameras and switchers to encode the live event into an RTMP stream. The RTMP stream is then sent to Zype’s encoder where it is then converted to an HLS stream in multiple adaptive renditions, such as 240p, 480p, 720p, 1080p. Each HLS stream is stored in a cloud DVR which gives consumers the ability to rewind live events. The renditions are then served through our CDN depending on the consumer’s internet connection. The basic way it works is Zype takes your live stream, converts it into multiple renditions, and serves it to consumers based on their internet connection quality. The stronger the internet, the better quality stream will be served to consumers.

How much does Zype Live cost?

Zype Live is included with any of Zype’s current pricing plans. If your account does not currently include Zype Live access, please contact your Account Manager to learn about live streaming with Zype. Live encoders typically cost $2 - $4 / hr per encoder, depending on your Zype plan. If you need multiple encoders, please contact your Account Manager for initiation and set up.

What are the prerequisites for live streaming through Zype?

To create a live event through Zype, please make sure to have the following:Live broadcasting content; either an on-demand event or linear feed.Local switcher or camera that supports encoding a live broadcast to RTMP outputReliable internet connection for sending the RTMP stream to ZypeTranscoder for converting the RTMP stream into HLS renditions (note, Zype’s cloud transcoding service can fulfill these needs)

How quickly can I get a live stream up-and-running?

If you have all the prerequisites needed for streaming, you can be live within minutes.

What am I (the customer) responsible for?

1. Your live broadcasting content; either an on-demand event or linear feed.

2. We recommend using a local switcher or encoding software to ensure your feed is optimized and can be converted to an RTMP stream.

3. A reliable internet connection to send your feed to Zype.

4. If monetizing, you must set up payment processing and configure your payment plans and video paywalls prior to your broadcast.

Can I use Zype just to live stream a few events for this month?

Yes! You can use Zype’s live streaming as long as you have an encoder provisioned at the time of the stream.

What happens to my live content after my live event is complete?

Zype provides the ability to create a live to VOD archive of your event. After broadcasting an event you have the option to add it to your library and make it available to your consumers.

What’s the difference between a Linear live stream and an On-Demand Live event?

A Linear live stream is a continuous feed of real-time and/or VOD live video that runs 24x7, much like a cable TV channel. An On-Demand live event is an event that has a discrete start and end time.

What is an RTMP stream?

RTMP stands for Real Time Messaging Protocol. Think of a video being transferred for distribution like a train on tracks. The train cars represent individual bytes of encoded video and the tracks represent RTMP.

How do I create an RTMP stream?

An RTMP stream is created on the camera or encode switcher you are using to broadcast your event. Typically the encoder switcher will require a URL, username, and password so it knows where to send the stream. Zype provides this information to customers.

What is a Zype cloud encoder and how do I access mine?

A Zype cloud encoder is a cloud-based service that ingests your RTMP stream and breaks it up into multiple adaptive renditions. This process also converts your stream into HLS and records your content to our cloud DVR. You can easily access your Zype cloud encoders by navigating to the Live section in the Zype dashboard and click “Manage Encoders”. This will redirect you to your Encoder Manager where you can turn on and off an encoder, determine stream connectivity and monitor bitrates.

What is a CDN and why do I need one?

CDN stands for Content Delivery Network. You need a CDN to distribute your content over geographically dispersed locations effectively. A CDN caches data local to the requester's geographic location, minimizing latency for the requests as well as providing the ability to scale a stream to large audiences.

Does Zype Live include distribution over a CDN?

Yes, Zype provides a CDN to distribute live content through.

Can I use my own CDN for live streaming?

Yes! You can bring your own live streams to Zype as self-hosted videos. You can learn more about importing and broadcasting self-hosted videos.

What is HLS and why does Zype Live use HLS for broadcasting?

HLS stands for HTTP Live Streaming. It is a streaming protocol used to deliver audio and video content. HLS breaks down content into discreet 10-second chunks at a time and is served through HTTP, making it widely available to various firewalls and devices. Zype uses HLS for broadcasting because it gives creators the flexibility to encode their content in multiple renditions and serve the best quality to customers depending on internet bandwidth and latency. This reduces buffering times for consumers and allows for a more consistent user experience.

What happens if my live stream fails?

If you are experiencing an issue with your live stream you first want to ensure your broadcast is still running on-location. Check local switchers and cameras, as well as ensure internet connectivity is available at that location.Ensure your stream is running on Zype, the best way to do that is to check the “Encoder Management” page if you have an incoming stream. You can also monitor the incoming bitrate of your stream from your on-location encoder. If you are still having issues, please contact our support team at support@zype.com

I’m broadcasting a live event on X day… can I get dedicated support for my live event?